There is much more to electronic tools than just pliers and screwdrivers. While most tools can be purchased at the local hardware shop, there are others that can be bought only in specialized stores. Some tools have evolved over a period of time, while others have retained their core purpose.
This article lists down a few common electronic tools that you can use for your home-based projects. It makes little sense to shop for a highly specialized tool such as a soldering iron, for a one-off task. You can either call a mechanic for that job or simply rent that tool. Please note some tools listed here require careful handling. You may have to wear a pair of rubber gloves while using some of these instruments.
Screwdrivers
If there is a screw to be fitted or taken out, you would need a screwdriver. This tool is an essential part of every mechanic’s kit. Screwdrivers come in various types. There are some which are used in big machines and bridges, and those are used by big firms. For domestic use, a common screwdriver is no longer than 12 inches. Some drivers are as small as 5 inches.
Because these tools are made of brittle material, these screwdrivers are prone to breaking and falling apart. That’s the reason why screwdrivers are very inexpensive.
Cutters
To fix your electronic problems, you would also need cutters. These tools are shaped like pliers, but they do a different task- cut wires or the rubber sheaths enclosing them. For more advanced work, you would need specialty cutters that trim component leads on printed circuit boards or PCBs. Some cutters even have retainers that prevent wires and other loose material from flying off.
An important thing to consider here is don’t use cutters to cut thick materials or wires. If a nick develops on the cutter’s teeth, that instrument becomes useless. Use heavy cutters for clothesline hangers or thick springs, diagonal cutters for large-insulated steel, and flash-cutters only for thin wires. To get the best quality cutters, visit here.
Testers
These tools are shaped like screwdrivers but they do an altogether a very different job. A tester detects electric current in a circuit. It comprises a shaft and a handle. The handle is made of a transparent material like hard glass. Inside this handle is a small bulb. When held against a live wire, the bulb lights up telling the user that there is live current in the circuit.
Testers are used in electrical and electronic circuits for detecting very low magnitudes of electricity. Some testers are meant to detect current in bigger machines like meter boxes, etc.
Rotary tools
If you have a knack of doing work on printed circuit boards, we’d recommend you to purchase a couple of rotary tools. These instruments are designed to make small holes in a PCB, cutting square holes in a plastic sheet or trimming a printed circuit board to fit into a frame.
Rotary tools come with fixed or various rotation speeds. These tools also come in various sizes. Please note that a rotary tool is not a drill; its main function is to carve small holes in soft surfaces like PCBs. If you use this tool like a drill, it will burn out pretty quickly.
Tweezers
These tools hold very small objects on the printed circuit board. Tweezers are used in conjunction with soldering irons to hold very small or fine wires together. These tools are made of metal but you can have them with wooden handles too.
